What are Electronic Mailing Lists?

Electronic mailing lists are a popular way to correspond with groups of people that share similar interests. There are thousands of electronic mailing lists dedicated to topics ranging from celebrity sightings and literature discussions to support groups and discussions about technology and culture.

How Do Mailing Lists Work?

Mailing lists work by assigning a single email address to an entire group of people. To get your email address added to the list, you have to subscribe. Once subscribed, you can send (also called "post") a message to the group without needing type in every person's email address. Simply type in the address for the mailing list. A copy of your message will then be sent (sometimes called "broadcast") to everyone on the list.

List Administration Software Most mailing lists are automatically maintained by list administration software. List administration software keeps track of the mailing lists, list members and messages hosted by a particular computer. Common mailing list software packages include Listserv, Majordomo, Listproc, and Almanac.

List administration software "broadcasts" message.

The Master Internet Volunteer Program was developed by the University of Minnesota Extension Service and was adapted for use in North Dakota with permission. Copyright  © 2000  North Dakota State University. All rights reserved.

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